Abstract
Editor's Note: This paper is a welcome tutorial on a technique for AC magnetometry, allowing the measurement of a sample's magnetic susceptibility with considerable sensitivity. The authors present a low-cost setup based on an LC self-oscillator circuit, which has an operating frequency that is rather sensitive to the susceptibility of a sample introduced within its inductor. After characterizing the performance of the circuit, data taken on a high-temperature superconducting sample are presented, demonstrating how the samples superconducting transition can be detected by this noncontact magnetic method, independent of the usual resistivity-based detection. This project will be of interest to instructors wishing to introduce a magnetism-related experiment in their laboratory curricula.
Recommended Citation
H. Agarwal et al., "AC Magnetic Measurements with a Self-oscillating LC Circuit and its Application to University Education," American Journal of Physics, vol. 94, no. 4, pp. 312 - 320, American Association of Physics Teachers, Apr 2026.
The definitive version is available at https://doi.org/10.1119/5.0305298
Department(s)
Physics
Publication Status
Available Access
International Standard Serial Number (ISSN)
1943-2909; 0002-9505
Document Type
Article - Journal
Document Version
Final Version
File Type
text
Language(s)
English
Rights
© 2026 The Authors, All rights reserved.
Publication Date
01 Apr 2026
Comments
Materials Research Science and Engineering Center, Northwestern University, Grant DMR-2418630